Automatic feeder



Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,925

J. A. NOLAN AUTOMATIC FEEDER Filed Feb. 19. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1&1 l

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I N x i I N lI JMW n N L I u. A.' I l4 I L.: Ih j; u N o h1 o 't l l1. il 'Q 1 Q I. rNOLH/V INVENTQR ATTORNEY Dec, 16, 1924.

J. A. NOLAN AUTOMATIC FEEDER Filed Feb. 19 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet ATTI.` Ww EY 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1924.

J.A.NOLAN AUTOMATIC`FEEDER Filed Feb. 19, 1924 Dec. 16, 1924.

J. A. .NOLAN AUTOMATIC FEEDER Filed Feb. 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Dec. 16, 1924. I

UNITED STATES JAMES A. NOLAN, OF BOWERSTON', OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FEEDER.

Application led February 19, 1924. Serial No. 693,816.

To ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES A. NoLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowerston, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic feeders, and more particularly to an apparatus adapted for feeding mine cars'to various types of cages and dumps used in mining operations.

'One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a feeder of extremely simple construction and operation in which all unnecessary parts are eliminated and the operation of the feeder is controlled by the cars themselves. A further object. is to provide a feeder including movable horns and cushion springs therefor, the rebound of the springs when released from pressure being utilized to assist in the operation of the feeder. Another object is to provide a feeder of the character stated which may be readily used in connection with various types of dumps and cages. Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the feeder as applied, the feeder being also illustrated as used as a stop on the cage;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the feeder as applied showiug the position of the parts as the cage approaches loading position;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the cage in lowered or loading position;

Fig. 4 is a sect-ion taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the trip crank on the approach track rocker shaft;

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the trip crank on the cage rocker shaft;

Fig. 7 is a lperspective View of one of the stops;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modlied form of stop;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the feeder as used in connection with a cage provided with a different form of stops;

Fig. 10 is an end view of a rotary dump showing the manner in which the feeder is applied to this type of dump;

Fig. 11 is a section taken substantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view showing the manner of applying the feeder to a tilting dump;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 13-13 of F 12.

The feeder includes a rockerrsha 1 which is rockably mounted midway between the rails of approach track A, which rails are bent to provide an inclined portion a leading to the shaft in which a cage operates, or to a dump, as the case may be. The bend in the rails and the purpose therefor is fully set forth in my U. S. patent for automatic car eager, issued to me June 29, 1915, Pat. No. 1,144,374, and need not be further described here in detail. The rails of the approach track A are disposed to be aligned with the rails of a track c on a cage C when the cage is in loading position, and a receiving track I) is provided at the other end of the cage, the rails of this track being also aligned with the rails of the cage. This is a well known construction in this art and need not be further described.

Horns or stops 2 are mounted adjacent each rail a of the approach track A, these stops being rockably and slidably mounted on rods 3 secured in blocks 4 which are secured to the outer faces of the webs ofthe rails. An expansion spring 5 is mounted about each rod and is confined between the inner block 4 and stop 2, these springs acting to normally hold the stops against the outer blocks 4. `'Ihe stops are connected by links 6 to arms 7 which project from a sleeve 8 slidably mounted on a squared portionv 1a of rocker shaft 1. Broadly stated, this construction is similar to that disclosed in my patents for mine car eager 1,337,944 and mine car eager 1,337,945, both issued April 20, 1920, and it is not thought that any further detailed description of this general construction is necessary. It is to be noted, however,` that in this instance I prefer to employ cushion springs of such length and strength that the stops 2-will be moved an appreciable distance away from the outer blocks 4 when subjected to the pressure of a trip of cars on the aproach track A above the stops. Rocker shaft 1 is provided,at its outer end, with an arm 9 secured thereon which is connectedby a tension spring 10 to one rail a', or any other suitable anchorage. This spring acts to rock the shaft in such direction as to normally hold the stops 2 in closed position over rails a. At its other end shaft 1 is provided with a trip crank 11 which includes arm 12 secured to the shaft and a trip finger 13 hingedly mounted Vas lin'the arm, this finger ,being so mounted and disposedas to be struck by a trip mem- Y ber 14 secured to cage C and projecting beyond the end ofthe cage so as to strike the finger thus depressing arm 12 and rocking shaft "1 in stop-opening direction. When the stops 2 have been closed andr crank 11 is returned to its normal position,z linger 13 is positioned above the trip element or member 14 but can be turned about the pivot of its hinge so as to be raised and permit passage of member 14 upon upward movement of the cage C, the finger being returned by gravity to normal position. The construction and arrangement of the trip crank and the trip member on the cage C is fully disclosed in my Patent 1,337,944 for mine car pager, above referred to.

Any preferred form of car holding or stop mechanism may be employed on the cage C, ybut I prefer to employ for this purpose a device which is identical in its construction and operation to the feeder on the approach track, with the exception that the trip crank 15 at the end of shaft 1 is the reverse of the construction of trip crank l2. Trip crank 15 includes an arm 16 secured on shaft 1 and a trip linger 17 pivoted front car of a trip of cars E supported upon at 18 in arm 16 and so constructed as to have downward movement about its pivot relative to the arm while having its upward movement relative to arm 16 positively limited. This finger is normally held in raised position relative to the arm by means of a tension spring 19 secured to the finger beyond the pivot thereof and to arm 16. As the cage is lowered into' loading position, finger 17 contacts with a trip member 20 which projects from the receiving track D so as to turn shaft 1 on the cage sufliciently to open stops 2 after which the finger passes out of contact with member 20 and, when the stops are returned to closed position, this finger is positioned beneath member 20. Upon raising of cage C lingers 17 will contact with member 2() and will be turned downwardly about its pivot but will not operate shaft 1, and will then pass out of contact with member 2O and be returned to its normaler raised position by Vtension spring 19. y

By referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the roperation of the feeder will be readily understood. In practice ,the stops 2 on the approach track are normally closed and are engaged by the front wheels of the the approach track. Stops 2 are forced lengthwise of rods 3 several oinches, in practice, by the weight of the trip held back by these stops, thus placing the springs under compression'. Each stop is provi ed, ,on its inner portion, with a forwardly projecting extension 21 and a rearwardly projecting element 22, the total length of the stop being greater than the distance between Vthe front and rear wheels of the car so that the,

the front wheels of the front car E. This releases the stops from the pressure of the trip so that the spings 5 expand and force the stops forwar y into contact with the outer blocks 4c, thus projecting the extensions 22 across the outer faces of the front wheels of the car. Asy soon as the car is released it travels down the inclined portion a of approach track A. During travel of the car between the stops 2, these stops are held open by the car wheels due to contact of members 21 and 22 with the wheels. When the car has passed the stops they are Vimmediately returned to closed positionV by the action of spring 10 so as to catch the front wheels of the next car thus holding the rest of the trip back. In this manner the cars are cut out one at a time from the trip and fed onto the cage. When cage C is lowered into loading position the rocker shaftl on the cage is also turned in stop-openin direction by means of trip member 20 an Ytrip crank 15 thus releasing cage stops 2 from the wheels of the empty car, these stops being projected by springs 5 a suiicient distance to insure that the members 20 will project across the outerlfaees of the front wheels of the car, thus holding the stops open. The entering loading car pushes the edecting a material saving in time in 'feed-p ing the cars onto the cage, which is of great importance 1n mining operations.

As will be noted more' clearly from Fig. 7

the element 22 of stop 2 projects inwardly from the inner face of the stop, as does also, the forward or inner end portion of extension 21.V This .insures that thehorn orfstop 2 will be turned outwardly such a distance,

during passage of a ear between the stops, as to eliminate any possibility of the stop contacting with the hubs of the wheels vthus permitting free travel of the cars between the stops and' insuring accurate operation of the feeder. In Fig. 8 I have shown a modinuages fied form of horn in which the horn 2 is provided with a lono'itudinally extendin sleeve 2b throu h whic is mounted a rod 23 which asses t arms o y a U-shaped yoke 24 provided witha forwardly rojecting finger 25. This yoke is positioned to extend across the upper face of the adjacent rail and downward movement of the yoke is limited by a pin 26 secured in horn 2* beneath one of the arms of the yoke. This yoke acts in the same manner as the extensions 21 and 22 of horn 2 in that it serves to span the space between the front and rear w eels of a car and to hold the horn outwardlyr a sufficient distance away from the wheels to eifectually eliminate possibility of contact of the horn with the wheel hubs.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated the feeder as used in connection with a cage provided With a different form of stop and stop control means. In this form I have shown the cage provided with stops 27 positioned adjacent to the rails of the cage track, these stops being urged in closed direction by a tension vspring 28 secured to one of the rails and to an arm secured on a. shaft 29 rockably and slidably mounted in bearing blocks 30 carried by the cage C. Atrip arm 31 is secured on the outer endof shaft 29'a-nd is positioned to strike trip member 20 secured on the receiving track D. A trigger 32 is mounted adjacent to one of the rails of the cage `track at the entrance end thereof and is connected by an arm 33 and a chain 34 to shaft 29 for retracting this shaft and moving arm 31 out of contact with trip member 20 so as to` permit closing of stops 27 by an entering loaded car after the empty car has been pushed off of the cage. The stops 27 are connected by links 35 and associated parts to shaft 29 so as to be operated thereby, and the shaft is normally held in projected position by an expansion spring 36 mounted about the shaft and confined between a collar on the shaft and one of the bearing blocks 30. This particular form of stop means for the cage is illustrated and vdescribed in detail in my Patent-1,301,732 for safety device for mines, issued to me April 22, 1919, and it is not thought necessary to describe it more fully here. The operation of the feeder is the same as above described, the cars being fed onto the cage as it is lowered into loading position, the

entering loaded car acting to push the empty car o of the cage onto the receiving track, after which the entering car operates tri ger 32 thus closing the cage stops 1n front o the enterin car.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have illustrated the manner in which the feeder can be applied to a rotary dump. A rotary dump F of known construction and rotated in a. known manner. is positioned adjacent to the lower ough the outer ends of the' end of the inclined portion a of approach g track A, and trip crank 11 is replaced by `a trip arm 37 of rigid construction secured on shaft 1 and extending downwardly therefrom. This arm is positioned to be struck by a trip member 38 secured on dump F and disposed to contact with arm 37 so as to rock shaft 1 in stop-opening direction as the dump returns to loading position after an overturning operation. After shaft 1 has been turned in stop-opening direct-ion by trip member 38, this member passes out of Contact with the arm, the stops being held f open by the wheels of the car passing between the same, and being subsequently closed by the action of spring 10 in the manner previously described thus returning arm 37 to its normal position in which it will be again struck and operated by trip member 38 upon return of the dump to loading position after an overturning operation, in the manner described. This means of operating the approach track rocker shaft in connection with a rotary dump is illustrated and described in my Patent 1,337,944 previously referred to and need not be further described here. In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown simple and efficient means whereby the feeder may be used in connection with a tilting dump C". In this form of the device tris crank 11 on the end of shaft 1 is replace by a. collar 39 from which project two diametrically opposite arms 40 which are connected b links 41 to arms 42 projecting from a colar 43 secured on a counter shaft 1" rockably mounted beneath shaft 1. A trip crank 44 similar in construction to trip crank 11 is secured on shaft 1b and is positloned-.to be actuated by a trip member 45` carried by dump C. When the dump C is .returned to loading position crankk 44 is actuated so as to turn counter shaft 1b thus turning shaft 1 in stop-opening direction and permitting a loaded car to travel onto the dump, the entering loaded car actlng to push the empty car off of the dump onto the receiving track. After the loaded car has passed from between the stops on the approach track leading to the dump; shaft 1 will be rocked in stop-closing direction, shaft 2 being -similarly rocked thus positioning the pivoted iin er of crank 44 above trip member 45. Vt en the dump is turned into dumping position trip member 45 raises the pivoted fin' r which then passes out of contact with t e trip member and returns to its normal position, the parts being operated in the manner previously described when the dump is again returned to loading position. This means of connecting the rocker shaft on the ap roach track to a counter shaft so as to acilitate operation of the feeder by -a tilting dump is disclosed in my Patent 1,337,944l above referred to.

What l claim is:

lli)

1. In car feeding means, a structure provided with car receivinor and holding means, an approach track leading to said structure, a receiving track leading from the structure. said structure being movable into and out oi loading position relative to the tracks, stops on the approach track of such length as to span the space between the front and-rear wheels of a car passing between said stops, means urging the stops in closing direction and acting to normally hold them closed, means for closing said car holding means, means for opening the car holding means when the structure moves into loading position, and means for opening and then releasing said stops when said structure moves into loading position.

2. In car feeding means, a structure provided with'car receiving means, an approach track leading to said structure, said structure being movable into and out of loading position relative to the track, stops on the approach track of such length as to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car passing between said stops, means urging the stops in closing direction and acting to normally hold them closed, and means for opening and then releasing said stops when said structure moves into loading position.

3. In car feeding means, a structure provided with carV receiving means, an approach track leading to said structure, said structure being movable into and out of loading position relative to the track, normally closed car holding means on the approach track adapted to be held open by a car on the track passing said holding means, means actuated by said structure as it moves into loading position for opening 'the car holding means, and means for urging the car holding means in closed direction. Y

4. In car feeding means, a car receiving structure, an approach track leading thereto, a receiving track leading from the structure, said structure being movable into and out of loading position relative to the tracks, stops on the structure, means for Y opening said stops as the structure moves into loading position, stops on the approach track, means for normally holding the approach track stops closed and for urging them in closing direction, the approach track stops being of suiiicient length to contact with the wheels of a car passing the stops on the track so as to be held open thereby during passing of the car, means for opening and then releasing the approach track stops as the car receiving structure moves into loading position and means for closing the sto s on said structure afteran empty car as been pushed beyond the stops of the structure by an entering loading car.

5. In Ycar feeding means, a car receiving `"structure, an approach track leading thereto,

H a receiving track leading from the structure,

passing of the car, means actuated by saidY structure for opening and then releasing the approach track stops as the car receiving structure moves into loading position, and means for closing the stops on the structure in rear of an empty car passing oi of the structure and in advance of' an entering loaded car.

6. In car feeding means, a car receiving structure, an approach track leading .thereto, a receiving track leading from the structure, said structure being movable into and ont of loading position relative to the tracks,

a rock shaft on the approach track, stops on the approach track, connections between the shaft and the stops for closing the stops when the shaft is rocked in one direction and opening the stops when the shaftis rocked in the other direction, said stops being of suiicient length to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car passing between the stops, means urgin the shaft in sto 'closing direction and acting to normally old them closed, and means for rock- Yloo ing the shaft a predetermined distance in Y stop opening direction and then releasing it as the structure moves into loading position. Y

7. In car feeding means, a car receiving structure, an approach track leading thereto, a receiving track leading from the structure, said structure being movable into and out ofloading position relative to the tracks, a rock shaft on the approach track, stops on the approach track, connections between the shaft and' the stops for closing the stops when the shaft is rocked in one direction and opening the stops when the shaft is rocked in the other direction, said stops being of sufficient len th to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car paing between the stops, means urging the shaft in stop closing direction and acting to normally old them closed, and means actuated by said structure for rocking the shaft a predetermined distance in stop opening direcltion and then releasing it as the structure the approach track, connections between the rock shaft and the stops for closing the stops when the shaft is turned in one direction and opening the stops when the shaft is turned in the other direction, means for urging the shaft in stop closing directio-n and for normally holding the stops closed, a rock shaft on said structure, stops on the car receiving structure, connections between the rock shaft and the stops on the car receiving structure for closing the stops when the rock shaft is turned in one direction and opening the stops when the rock shaft is turned in the other direction, means urging the rock shaft on the car receiving structure in stop closing direction and acting to normally hold the stops closed, the stops being of such length as to span the space between the front and rear wheels of cars passing through said stops, and means for turning both of said shafts in stop opening direction through a predetermined distance and then releasing them when the car receiving structure is moved into loading position.

9. In car feedin means, a track, a rock shaft mounted on t e track, stops ositioned adjacent to the rails of the trac connections between the shaftand the stops for opening the stops when the shaft is turned in one direction and closing the stops when the shaft is turned in the other direction, and means for urging the shaft in stop closing direction and for normally holdingthe stops closed, said stops being of sufiiclcnt length to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car passing through the stops on the track.

10. In car feeding means, in combination with a track for supporting cars traveling thereon, a rock shaft mounted on the track, stops mounted adjacent to the rails of the track, connections between the shaft and the stops for opening the stops when the shaft is turned in one direction and closing the stops when the shaft is turned in the other direction, said stops being of sufficient length to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car passing throuvh the stops on the track, means for urging t 1e shaft in stop closing direction and for normally holding said stops closed, and means for cushioning movement of the stops in one direction when the stops are struck `by a car, said means acting to project the stops in the other direction to extend across the outer faces of the wheels of a car when the stops are moved into open position out of contact with the car wheels.

11. In car feeding means, a car receiving structure and approach and receiving tracks leading to and from said structure, the

structure being movable into and out of loading position relative to the tracks, supporting rods mounted adjacent to the rails of the approach track, stops rockably and slidably mounted on said rods, abutment members at the inner ends of the rods, ex-

pansion coil springs mounted about the rods and confined between said abutment members and the stops, the stops being of such length as to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a car passing through the stops, means for urging the stops in closed direction and for normally holding them closed over the rails of the track, and means for opening the stops and then releasing them when the car receiving structure is moved into loading position.

12. In car feeding means, a track for reception of a car traveling thereon, stops mounted adjacent to the rails of the track and movable into open and closed position relative thereto, means for urging the stops in closed direction and for ing them closed, means for momentarily opening the stops and then .releasinfr them, and car controlled means for holdlng the stops open during travel of a car on the track through the stops and then releasing the sto s so as to permitclosing thereof.

13. stop for car feeding means, said stop being rovi'ded with a member disposed inwardly tliereof and extending lengthwise of the stop and of sufficient length to span the space between the front and rear wheels of a. mine car.

14. A stop for car feeding means provided on its inner face with an inwardly projecting member disposed lengthwise of the stop and of such length as to span the space between the front andrea wheels of a mine car, said member projecting inwardly benormally holdyond the inner face of the stop such a di's- A tance as to hold the stop out of the path of travel of the hubs of the wheels of a mine car with the outer faces of which the extension member is held in contact.

l5. In combination with a stop for use in car feeding means, a yoke pivotally mounted on the stop and projecting inwardly beyond the same, the inner portion of this yoke being of sufficient length to span the space between the wheels of a mine car in contact with which the yoke is held, and means for limiting downward movement of the yoke.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES A. NOLAN. 

